JERUSALEM (JTA) -- IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Gantz left for his first official visit to the United States and Canada.

Gantz, who left Thursday on a trip that was delayed several days due to the violence on Israel's southern border, will meet with his counterparts in both countries, as well as security, government and military officials. They are scheduled to discuss joint military cooperation and mutual security challenges, as well as participate in briefings on the region.

It is Gantz’s first trip to the United States since his appointment as IDF chief of staff in February 2011.

In January, Gantz met in Israel with his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Martin Dempsey.